SERS Substrates

Key Applications

Detection of narcotics. Fast identification of drugs in the field is a real boon for those combating drug-related crime. Often only small residues of a sample can be collected from a crime scene. SERS also opens up a potential route for fast roadside drug screening of drivers using saliva samples.

Food safety. Certain additives such as melamine found in milk powder can be extremely harmful even at very low concentrations. Using SERS, we can qualify and quantify the level of dangerous trace elements in our food supply chain.

Anti-counterfeit tagging. High value products that are subject to duties and taxes — petrol is one example — are often the target of piracy and fraud. By adding a small amount of a SERS-active taggant to the unadulterated product, detecting the taggant becomes an instant indicator of authenticity.

Specifications
Substrate Dimensions	75 x 24 x 0.2 mm
Active Area (free chip size)	Ø 6 mm
Number of Active Areas (chips)	4
Volume of Analyte	5-10 µL
Substrate Surface	Polyethylene flexible adhesive film
Raman Laser Excitation Wavelength Range	671 / 785 /830/ 1064 nm
Shelf Life for Optimum Performance	8 months
Long Term Storage Temperature	5 – 60 °C (40 – 140 F)
Long Term Storage Humidity	< 50, non-condensing % RH

Available SERS Substrates

Item Code	Description	Total SERS Chips
RAM-SERS-LP-1	1-unit 1×3” flexible & adhesive substrate with 4 SERS active chips	4
RAM-SERS-MS-1	1 substrate with 4 SERS chips on a microscope slide, in a plastic box	4
RAM-SERS-MS-5	5 substrates, each with 4 SERS chips on a microscope slide, in a plastic box	20